Everyday Lutherans

Watching a football game or sporting event, many of the people are standing and shouting that their team is #1.  Now keep in mind, every team does this. Even when they are not on top of the list. Even when they are the Cleveland Browns.  Declaring for everyone that will listen that they support their team and their team is the best. These competitions take place weekly, daily and in our lives on an ongoing basis.  Everyone strives to be the best. Now doing one's best is not a bad thing what is the problem is that is when we regard one another as competition and do not support one another. That people around us are to be feared, regarded as a threat and our focus becomes being over someone. Jesus delivers a message to his disciples.  While they are arguing who is the best among them, Jesus tells them to flip their idea of being the best upside down.  To be the best among you, you shall be last and servant of all. Now, this is an important lesson that we as disciples need to be remin...

Planting a seed is something many of us have done.  Some of us can relate to going and checking in on the progress of the seed.  Even the next we want to see if maybe the stalk is already started. We know it is unrealistic but still, we do it. As the days and weeks unfold, as we water and remove the weeds around that plant.  We wait, hoping and longing for what we expect to come. However, for all of “our” work that we do. I am more amazed at what God is doing through that seed and in our own life. By planting that seed, God has allowed us to be part of the work of creation.  We are able to labor and see the fruits of the labor. LITERALLY. However, it still astounds me sometimes the way in which our society has organized itself.  Declaring that land is actually able to be owned even though God gave it to us. Deciding a price for the seeds, fruits, or the trees that God himself has grown.  And perhaps even more surprising to me is the way in which we withhold the gifts God has given to u...

Our readings today all have the common theme of Jesus being the Good Shepherd to God’s People.  Today we hear the texts that people typically cling to especially at the event of a funeral. It is here that we meet the very core for many that form their faith and their understanding of God. Psalm 23 and the image that Jesus is our Shepherd is one that is talked about and this brings great comfort to many. It provides an image in which Jesus will ensure that we get the food that we need, will give us water to drink, care for our injuries as we wander through those rocky parts of our lives and even protect us from the wolves that will try and wound us to devour us. So today, I would like us to stop and consider what it meant for Jesus and those who were listening to Jesus of, “What does a good shepherd look like?”  For most of you do not know what it means to be a shepherd at the time of Jesus. Even those of you who grew up on a farm with sheep had different duties than those of the time o...

Today within our texts, I am reminded that God does not always show up the way we expect him to be within our lives.  For many of us, we think of God as someone who will bless us. But then when God does not give us what we ask for, then we get upset or wondering what we have done wrong.  However, God is not a genie for us to make a wish on. God is someone who controls many parts of our lives but also allows us to experience our own decisions and the consequences of our choices.  There are times that we are blessed in extraordinary ways that we are aware of but there are other times that we are blessed and no idea of the blessing that we have received. Take, for example, the Old Testament shares with the giving of the Ten Commandments.  We hear what the commandments are but do we have any idea WHY? God gave the Ten Commandments to the people??  When we study this scripture it is often for the Ten Commandments and what they mean for us today but we often do not take the time to realize w...

In our society, we push ourselves and our loved ones to be the best.  For many of us, we watch the Olympics and we see the athletes stand upon the three level stands of First, Second and Third.  We hear the national anthem of the first place. Everyone can clearly see who is the best and who should have the honor. We look and see who is the fastest runner, the fastest swimmer, and even the best at whatever the competition is about.  We have competitions to bear witness of which person and where the honor should be. However, have you every really stopped to think about the competitions that we have and what really they do for us in life? We have competitions to see who is the fastest?  Fastest swimmer? Why? Why not just get into a car or a boat?  That would make so much more sense right? Or how about other sports, baseball, football, soccer, hockey, or even tennis.  What is the purpose of the sport? Yet there is something about watching and bearing witness to someone working so hard and ...

How many of you have children or ggrandchildren who are constantly staring down at a device?  During the time of driving from one place to another, spending time for the holidays or perhaps some other event?  A person’s attention is on their phone and not the people who are surrounding them. The person may be talking to someone in the room through the device, perhaps several thousands of miles or even just in the next community.  Now relationships are important, to connect with another person and be able to share your thoughts, your dreams, your emotions, and who you are as a person is important to be healthy. However, when you are so busy with something that you are not honoring the people who are around you or the aspects of the world that may harm you, you are just too busy.  Especially when all of your truly does not lead to anything that productive. So perhaps you take a look at your own calendar.  What is it filled with? Work, meetings, sporting events, time with friends, time to...

As we continue tonight, you may have noticed that we are continuing to go through the letter to the Galatians.  We are already in chapter two, and Paul is getting to the heart of the matter. Getting the people of Galatia to understand what they need, but also helping them and us identifying the constant distraction and path that we can so often feel that we are going down in our journey of faith.  For people sometimes assume that because of their birth, they are saved. Because I am Jewish, I am one of the chosen people of God. Because I was born into a Christian family and baptized, I am going to be saved. Just because you are or have done one of these things in your life, does not mean that you are saved and that salvation is secure.  No, it is not your doing that gives you salvation. It is the work of Jesus Christ. Paul speaks of the other distraction for our faith journey, that it is the law.  The law is so often lifted up as what it is we should do so that we shall be a Christian. ...

Have you seen the new movie entitled "The Son of God".  It is a movie that shows the entire story of Jesus life from birth to his death.  It is coming out on February 28, 2014. Will you be taking your youth group? Will you be having a Bible Study on it?

A cold winter night in December, it was about -5 that night.  I got done with confirmation and then had a council meeting of the Parish leaders.  Following that meeting, at about 10pm, I walked outside where one of the leaders had the hood of his truck up.  At first I thought that he was having engine trouble and that he would need a jump or something.  I walked over and asked if I could help in anyway.  He said, he noticed some paw prints in the snow and they ended at his truck. So he pounded on the hood and heard a small "meow".  He opened the hood and there was a small kitten that had entered into the engine in hopes to find a warm place. So I helped him coax out the kitten and since it was so late and he had dogs at home, I took home the cat.  She was cold, hungry thirsty and a little scared.  I placed her in my spare bathroom, gave her some water but I had no food, no litter, and did not know if she was healthy.  I let my parents know an...

Recently I was watching a movie in which a large congregation was gathering together. The pastor within the congregation was speaking about the great work that the people were doing within the church.  Instead of going on and on, the pastor turned the microphone over to the leader of the new group.  The leader began speaking to the congregation about the work they were doing and how simple it was but then turned and said you need to be a part of it too.  God is calling you to do the same thing.  More people needed to join this movement and enjoy the same success and glory that they have enjoyed.  The inspiring speech was great, motivating and yet was so very scripted for the movie it was in. At first, I thought that this movie was great.  The Pastor was encouraging and growing leaders within the congregation gathering everyone to Jesus Christ.  This is what the church should be doing and helping people live out within their life.  The people were ...

There are many conversations and understandings that relate to the Lord's Supper.  Even at the time in which Jesus was sharing the meal with the disciples, they did not fully understand what Jesus was doing and what it all meant.  Truly the meal that they were gathered was a Jewish Seder, a meal that helps the Jewish people remember and be within the history that God saved them from their time in Egypt from slavery and led them to the promised land.  The people wanted to remember the vast power and strength that God displayed to the Jewish people and the Egyptian people. It was this meal that Jesus was celebrating with his disciples.  Yet as Jesus was leading them in this meal of remembrance, when it came to certain parts, he changed the meanings.   When Jesus spoke of the unleavened bread, the bread that was prepared hurriedly to sustain the Jewish people on their journey from Egypt without yeast that would normally cause bread to rise.  Jesus said: "This ...

The Hebrew people were living in a life in which things were decided for them, their work, home, food and much was all dictated to them. The Ten Commandments were given to the people to help them with order within their life, how they should be an individual within a community and understand good and healthy relationships. Good relationships between God and you along with you and those around you. The people would need these in order to function and operate, make good decisions and ensure that God was important within their life. 
These Ten Commandments are something that can with stand the test of time. They are lessons can impact our daily life. Here is my attempt: First Commandment Honor God and what God has done for you Why is this important? God is the one who created you and sustains you. God has helped you become the person that you are today, getting through the struggles, giving you the good things, and reminding you that tomorrow is secure and taken care of. We fear God bec...

In recent years, I have noticed a growing number of larger congregations. Congregations where there are more programs, more people and more focus on keeping more people caring for the institution that is the building and not really the Gospel.  (Please note, I am not saying that all large congregations fit this but there seems to be a growing trend.)  You may notice the features: Young pastor - cause young pastors can relate to the youth and our church does not have any. Band - cause the old songs do not speak to the people that you are trying to get into your building. Focus on Life - most of the messages, classes and general direction of the congregation is helping people in their physical journey.  Right living and morals are the dominate messages being given.  Less emphasis on Jesus and more emphasis on 'What Scripture teaches us' becomes the language in which we hear more and more with the messages. Now you may be saying but our congregation has some of these th...

When you think of church, what do you think of? Honestly, write it down.  It all down.  Maybe even draw a picture, to help you capture all that you are thinking of. Now think of the church that you attend.  How are the same? How are they different? Now for the truth:  That ideal church that you first wrote about, can not happen.  For one thing, it is in your mind.  It would only happen if everyone did what you did.  You would be the god of that church. The church that you attend is not perfect.  Why?  The people who attend there are sinners and saints.  Yes even you.  Don't get me wrong you are not a bad person but within our lives, things happen, we make choices that we find out later, hurt someone else or even ourselves.  That's ok, you are human.  Along with that, when you get more than one person in a room, there are different ideas, concepts, and thoughts of what this church should be.  When that happens, there a...

I had a conversation with someone the other day and something really stuck out. "People just need to commit to the church and choose to follow Jesus."  The conversation continued and the person was longing for a church that was only within their mind.  Longing for more people to follow the message of Jesus Christ and the life that he has given to them.  This person hoped and longed for more to gather with them. The person had watched movies about what the church should be, important practices, along with studies that were published online by Biblical teachers that had their own TV show.  These teachings, movies and voices, are loud within the society, the people who cling to it are willing to put money, energy and passion behind it.   As a church leader, I have heard a lot of this, it seems that this understanding of God and the church resonates well with the people.  It makes sense, it is clear, and it explains a lot about this world.  Yet I wonder, j...

When I was a kid, I grew up thinking that God was this old man with a long white beard.  He sat on a big throne and had a lot of people who were singing around him.  But I was always afraid, I thought that God was one who looking out for the things that I was doing wrong.  Yet then Jesus would come and tell me things were going to be ok.  That God had been sitting on the throne for a long time but really he meant well and loved me.  As time went on my understanding of God grew, as it should because my relationship with God grew as well. I began to realize how that understanding of God was so true.  God wanted what was best for me and wanted me to realize the LOVE that He truly shared for me. Yet in my teen years, while your whole body and world seem to be put into this blender of reality and nothing seems to work out right.  You can also begin to wonder, doubt, and be down right frustrated with God.  For these two voices of God looking out for wha...

I have talked to a lot of people who attend church every so often to not really a whole lot. In one of my most recent conversations, a person asked me, "So, what does a pastor do?" I started thinking of all the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly things that I do and I could have listed them all off , but that would take a very long time. Then there are the things that no one can plan for. How do you tell someone that you live a life of chaos and unknown, and help someone make sense of it??? Here is my attempt. A pastor does many, many things; largely depending on the congregation's size and whether or not there is more than one pastor. If the church is large and there are multiple pastors, then they are specialized into separate fields.  In a one pastor congregation, then he/she does most (if not all) of the following. Depending on where the congregation is located will also determine the work that the pastor will have as a focus or time for travel between p...

38 John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.” 39 “Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. 40 Anyone who is not against us is for us. 41 If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded. 42 “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell i with two hands. j 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet. k 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it ...

38 John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.” 39 “Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. 40 Anyone who is not against us is for us. 41 If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded. 42 “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell i with two hands. j 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet. k 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it ...